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Johnny McKnight has been a contributor to River City for nearly ten years, and when news broke that the series would conclude after 24 years on air, he expressed a desire to write the final episode. He viewed this as a rare and meaningful opportunity to bid farewell to the show in his role as a writer. Though specific plot details remain under wraps, promotional images featuring a bloodied Lenny Murdoch caught in a fiery scene hint that the storyline will heavily involve the show’s notorious antagonist, portrayed by Frank Gallagher.
McKnight shares that he felt a significant responsibility to deliver an ending that would satisfy the show’s devoted viewers. Reflecting on other beloved cult television series such as The Sopranos, Dexter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Angel, which have sparked debate over their conclusions, he hopes the team behind River City has honored the audience’s expectations. “I’m just part of a massive collective team effort and I hope we’ve done the fans proud to the end,” he adds. He also emphasizes how the series skillfully balanced humor with drama, capturing a very Scottish approach: “Our punches have punchlines. We take our trauma and we find a way to tell it in a pub that makes it palatable, and the humour co-exists alongside the drama.”
Jenny Hulse, who portrays Amber Murdoch, Lenny’s daughter, plays a pivotal role in the concluding episode. Although filming took place in April, she admits the routine of returning to set around this time still lingers in her mind. The show was known for its demanding production pace, with the cast often working through as many as 17 pages of dialogue per day, contrasting with the more measured four pages typical on other TV dramas. “It’s like a moving train and when you join you just have to kind of jump on and cling on,” Hulse remarks. Beyond acting, River City became a crucial training hub for a wide range of television professionals—including writers, directors, camera operators, electricians, and wardrobe personnel—with many leveraging this experience to advance their careers.
Reflecting on her own journey, Hulse recalls starting with mainly stage work and some television roles, and expresses gratitude for the opportunities the show afforded. She highlights how former cast members have transitioned into roles behind the scenes; for instance, Ryan Graham, the director of the finale, began as a camera trainee. Additionally, Holly Jack and Sally Reid—who act on the series—now direct episodes. “Cast members become writers, camera operators and directors, and it’s incredible to watch that whole conveyor belt of talent. It’s been a factory. A factory of creativity,” she observes. As River City concludes, the cast and crew prepare to witness their final episode. Alongside the hour-long finale, a one-off documentary, *River City: The Last Take*, offers a closer look at the series’ ending. For many fans, the realization that the show is finished is difficult to accept. Johnny McKnight recounts a recent event at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre where fans expressed hope for the series to return. “They kept asking: ‘Will it come back? Do you think it’ll have another life?’ And you feel terrible saying, ‘Well, the set has been demolished, so it’s looking less likely,’” he shares
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